Signal code translator



Aug. 22, 1950 D. MITCHELL 2,519,638

SIGNAL CODE TRANSLATOR Filed Nov. 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN l/ENTOE D. M/ TCHE L L Patented Aug. 2 2, 1 950 STATES: PATENT F 'FICE' GOHE TRANSLATOR Daren Mitchell; Martinsville; N. J:, assigncr" to BelhT-elephone Laboratories; Incorporated; New York NJ Y., a corporationLoLNeW York Applieatibn' Novemb'en 8, 19461 SeriaINo. 708,574"

22 Claims.- I This; invention: relates to: card? translators: and more particularly: to. card: translators: in which; theoutputzv regist'rati'om is effected: by: photo electric means A feature of thiss inventionzisla card"translat-- ing arrangement which is; comparativ ly i in oonstruction,, easy=" in: operation; compact in. fomrand inexpensive -build.

Another: feature-of this-x invention: 2;: card strained from": rotating by the; action or one:

register from each bank;

KriurtheEfeaturwoIt invcntiom'is a card'- translating: arrangement in which the: input registers. operate? too-release: particular: card so:

that itT-IIIEYQbG- freeitot turn: on a. constantly; re tatingisliafti Still another? feature 0t this invention. is: a. card translating": arrangement in. which the: outiput registrationzis obtained by; means of. trans parent portions-in thescard so' thats a2 distinctive patterrr of phntoeiectric: energy from light. sources may BB5 obtained:from the. transparent portions: when an card: rotates:

Another; feature: of; this arrangement: stems: fromtthelfactl that notches: out? in: the: periphery of: each-:card onholesa-punched: along?- an are 7 of; thezcardi may be used toreplace -..the=" transparent portions:mentioned-above &S5 thevmB9J1S for ob tainm'gza distinctivefpattern of output registrar 131011;.

A still furthera feature of this;- invention: is: a card-translatingsystem inwhich a; carducanbe replaced:- even while the translator is in operation.

Still. another. feature of the invention is a: card: translating systemin which a number of. alternate output-codes 4 can be punchedon each cardin thelsystem and in which a particularout putcode-can be chosen-merely by, adjusting the; distance 1 oil the. light beam from the rotatingshaft.

One morefeature ofithe invention is acard translating; system in which. a. separate light source is. providedcfor eachiof=thelalternate output codes on r each code. so that more than one code. oannbe operat'edto register simultaneously,

separate sets ofireeiistersp Other adyantages: of'the invention will be! come apparent from. the. following discussions whentalien in conjunction withnthe accompany-- lin drawings.v

cards to be restrained instationary position bydetent means under the control of an input register," but whichalso allow anyselected card to: rotate when its-detent is1-released -byoperation of. the: inputregister.

erforationsf a different code. to the register.

' releasingtherotary'contact arm ofva distributor switch to rotatesimultaneously with the selected card. Thereafter as the cardrotatesitheradiant energy beam then falls on a photosensitive cell intermittently ata-rate. determined. by the pattern of perforations in the card; By this means,

brief impulses. of electricalcurrent are' introduced at desired times into the output pulse: time circuit. These impulses may then be caused to operate a plurality of output relays-ina wellknown manner. dependentupon their time sequence. In this manner a distinctive pattern of relay contacts is established:onrtheoutput reg-is ter. in accordance with. the code of each card selected;

In accordance with the present invention, adev-ice is contemplated? whichwill be composed of plurality of'lcards eaclioperative for a differentr input" code number. Av particular card is. selected when anlin'put 'cod'e number is dialed: and-l this card then turnsflon a rotating shaft and-registers on some output registers a code which has adistinctively diiferent' pattern-from the inputcoder The cards usedto obtain the distinctiveoutput pattern are shaped'inthe formof sectors ofla circle andhave a seriesof holes punched 1 ina distinctive patternalong an arc of l the sector.

Each card'is placediin-a holder-comprisinga disc Output registers of the translator are. controlled by" means of" radiant energy directedthroughthe coded perforations 0f.the; selectedcard so that a-ppli cation of an input signalin one-code to the in-- pout registers operates" toselect a particular card: which in rotation" projects-i through: its distinctive outpat As the: selected coder card begins to rotateit first-interrupts the-radiant energy beam, thus providing a starting impulse for. the pulse time: circuit of the output register and' thereby plurality of banks, with each bank containing a number of registers corresponding to the number of possible values obtainable for a digit of a code number. Since detent means extend from one register of each bank to engage the stop pins on a card holder and since the combination of detent means for each card may be varied, it may be seen that each card may be made responsive only when a particular code number is dialed. If a particular card is the responsive card, the input register will operate to disengage the detent means from the stop pins and the card will then be free to rotate on a constantly revolving shaft. Until such time as the detent means are released from the stop pins, the card will not rotate with the shaft because of the action of the detent means on the stop pins and also because of the fact that a friction clutch attached to the card holder permits the card to slip while the shaft rotates. ample, if the input registers are arranged in three banks containing ten registers in a bank Thus, for ex- L and if the selected card is responsive to the number 478, the dialing of f4 as the first number releases the first selecting bar froma stop pin restraining the rotation of the selected card; likewise, the dialing of 7 and 8 as the second and third numbers releases the other two selecting bars from engaging the second and third stop pins, thus permitting the selected card to rotate. As the card rotates, each of the transparent portions arranged circumferentially around an arc of the card becomes aligned with a source of radiating energy and a receiver responsive to the radiating source. Thus the receiver will be actuated in a pattern ofpulses which depend upon' the position of the transparent portions around the arc. As may be seen, if 'each card has a different pattern of transparent portions, a distinctive pattern of pulses may be obtained from each card as it rotates. As the card rotates, the rotary contact of a switch rotates in synchronism and passes over a number of stationary contacts on the switch equal to the number of possible positions for holes on the card. An output register is attached to each of these switches and thus only those relays will be operated which correspond in posltion to'transparent portions on the card. Referring now to the accompanying drawings; Fig. l is a perspective view of the mechanical features of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a simplified circuit diagram of the elec-i trical features of the invention, as seen in relation to the mechanical features shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, to which reference is now had, the mechanical features of the invention are shown. In general, these features comprise the three banks of input register relays Illa through 187, Ha through Hi, and l2a through I27, inclusive; the rotating shaft 13; the cards 24 and 25; and the card holders l4 and I 5 mounted on the shaft l3 but restrained from turning bytheir respective friction clutches I6 and I1 and by the stop pins [8, l9 and 20 and 2|, 22 and .23. The input register relays Hla through I37, Ila through Hi, and lZa through I27 are arranged in three banks containing ten relays in each bank becausethe normal input code number in a telephone system usually has three digits with each digit having one of ten possible values. Thus, if the input code number were "478, the fourth input register relay of the first bank, or in other words,

the register ltd, would be operated; likewise in- 4 put register relay 1 lg in the second bank and input register relay l2h in the third bank would be chosen by the second and third digits of the dial number. The input registers are actually magnets which are actuated when they are chosen. Although three banks of magnets are shown in the drawings, a larger number of banks could be used if the code number were" increased above three digits. Likewise, if the possible values for each digit were increased above ten, the number of register relays in each bank would be correspondingly increased.

In close proximity to the magnets lfla through I07, Ha through Hi and 12a through I27 are a number of selecting bars. These bars, one for each of the registering magnets, are aligned with the axes of their associated magnets, and have magnetic plates at the ends closest to the mag nets. These magnetic plates may be cylindrical in form, with the axis of the cylinders aligned with the axis of the associated magnet, and they should be close enough to theirrespective magnets so as to be attracted by the magnets when the latter are actuated. Thus the selecting bars 34a through 347', inclusive, are associated with the magnets Illa through I07, respectively and are responsive to their respective magnets because of the action of the magnetic plates 37a through 31 respectively. Likewise, the selecting bars 35a through 357', inclusive, are responsive to the magnets I la through I [7, respectively, because of the proximity of the magnetic plates 380, through 387',

respectively, and the selecting'bars 36a through means extending to each disc would also be in-.

creased. These detent means engage stop pins on the card holders and accordingly prevent the holders from rotating. Thus, the detent means 26, 21 and 28, which extend from theselecting bars 10b, Ha. and l2h, respectively, engage the stop pins [8, l9 and 20, respectively, on the card holder I 3 and restrain the holder l4 and the card 24 from moving. In like manner, the detent means 29, 30 and 31 extend from the selecting bars [0b, Na and I29, respectively and engage the'stop pins 2!, 22 and 23,'respectively on the card holder l5 restraining it and the card 25 from'moving. The card holder M has the arms 16 and ll extending out from the circular center portion at an acute angle with respect to each other, while the card holder l5 has the arms 18 and 79 extending out from its central portions at the same acute angle. Thesearms serve to hold the cards 2 l and 25, which are placed in the holders I4 and [5 so that each of the arms en'- gages the card at one of its edges. 5 l Since the arms holding a card form an angle less than 360 degrees with respect to each other, each card is shaped like a sector of a circle. The cards 24 and25 are secured'to the holder by means of the clamps {l0 and 4|, respectively, which fasten at one end ,to' the card holders 24 and 25 by means of the studs 64 and 45, respectively, and at the other. end to the cards'and holders by means of the spring-like action of the clamps.

If the clamps are made from resilient material sm if each cardbesecured in, its holder aclamp on each side" of the cardga simple means oi-securi'ng the card is provided butatithe same: time-the card may: be easily removed "when desired. The holders areallowed' to: remain stationaryawhile'the shaft IB-isxrotated by motor meansznotshown, since the-holders and I5 are vnzmiuntedi.onthe-friction clutches; l6 and I1, respeotively,:which slip while the shaft turns.-

Assumenow that card 24. is the'selected card. .Thuathe-code number to be dialed is 108, which will actuate the magnets lfl-b l|a' and 12h. and on account. of. the action of these: magnets on -theynragnetic p1ates 3-lb, 38a and 39h, the magnets-will attract the selecting rods-34b, 35a and iGhtowards the. magnets. As a. result, thestop l8, l9. and will .be released and the holder 14 and card.- 24 will be. free. to turnin a. clockwise direction-along withthe shaft l3. A radiating source 4B is placed on .oneside of. therow of cardsand. a. device 41 responsiveitothe radiating source-is placed onthe. other side of the row solthat when none. of the cards is rotating the energy from thesource '46 can energize the de- Jiice "4.1 and cause an electrical signalt'o be obtained. It should be realized that a number" of forms of. radiant energy might be used such as photoelectricity, infra-red energy or ultra-violet energy. Thus, the source 46 might beanxelectrio bulb or a. source of infra-red or ultra-violet energy. "Likewise, the. responsive means 41 might be, a photoelectric cell or selenium cell'or any othenmeansresponsive to the above forms of energy. "The following discussion will proceed on the'assumption that'photoelectric energy is used, such that'the source--48 will be alight bulb and the responsive means will be-a photo- 'electric' tube. The positions of the bulb-'46'and tubefl are shown in- Fig. l with a lens 52= also "being shown as the means whereby 'the light from the bulb 46 may be concentrated in a beam before itimpinges on the photoelectric tube 41. I-iowever, -Whena card starts to rotate, it crosses the line of sight between the bulb 46 and photo- 'eiectric'tirbe 4l and thus interrupts the current fir-the photoelectric circuit, which will be described more fully in 'connectionwviththe discussion of Fig. 2. This: interruption of the electric current serves as the start signal for the cutputcode. 'farearound. the periphery oi. each card atv aradius which will cause the portions; to be in the line "of sightibetween. the bulb- 4'6 and. tube 47 as the caret-rotates; If the periphery of. the..card be divided. into a number of equal arcs and if in each equal arc,:five possiblepositions for transparent portions arelocated, locating two transparent portions out of. the five possible; positions for portions will give, ten different combinations m; transparent portions in each arc. By varying the. possible combinations in the various. arcs of ,eaclrcard, a different output code may be ob.- tained for each card. Thus, five equal arcshave been taken on the periphery of thetcards shown in-Fig lrandzcard 24 may have transparent por- .-tions=-locatedin the second and fourth positions gon the first arc while card may have trans- ..pazrentportions located in the first and fourth .pnsitionsof the firstarc. Likewise, in the sec- -*ond; arc-,,-. card- .24 may have transparent portions ilocatedsin the third and fifth positions, with itransparentmortions in the first and third po- .sitlms being-located in the, second arc of card in. lltsmay .be; seen, thereiore, that different --cadesc' be established by dividing .the ..periph.-

A series of transparent" portions cry or the cards 'upinto a number of equal arcsand varying the positions of the transparent portions in-the diiierentv arcs. Additionally, a number of different codes may be. established on each card merely by placing series of trans-'- parent portions along arcs which have different radii from the shaft i3. Thus, choice of a particular code might be made by adjusting the distance of the electric bulb 46 and the photoelectric tube 41 from the shaft l3. Or, instead of adopting a new output registration for the selective card by changing the position of the bulb=46 and the photoelectric tube 47, other bulbs and other photoelectric tubes may be used to respond-"to the other series of holes. Thus, Fig. 1 ShOWS'the bulb 80 and the photoelectric tube 8| responsive to a second series of transparent portions on the cards 24 and 2 5. Similarly, the same effect would be obtained if holes were punched toreplace the transparent portions, since the holes would allow light from the bulb 46 to pass through and energize the output circuit. By this means a plurality of signal codes maybe recorded on each card, if so desired, and a plurality of output registers may thereby be controlled by each operation of the single input register. Additionally, instead of a series of holes as'the means for obtaining the output code patternfa series of notches on the periphery of the cardmay be used as the means for obtaining the output code. The radiant energy circuit would then be completed when. a notch became aligned with the radiating source and responsive means. If a new pattern of holes is desired for a card, the card maybe replaced merely by pulling'thecardout of the card holder, since the spring-like'clamps similar to the clamps 43 on theholder l4 permits. such removal. This-act. itmay beseen, maybe accomplished even while the" translator is in operation. The new card may be inserted by pressingdown on the card a little force.

By the time the selected card has almost completed one rotation, the three magnets which causedthe card to be released will cease to be contract, pulling the selecting bars back into position to engage the stop pins when the card holder has made a completerotation. The holder 'oi theselected card will then be held stationary until :the next time the card is chosen. The springs 49a through 49 inclusive, fasten the selecting bars 34a through 34 respectively, to the plate 48', while the springs 50a through. 507' fasten the selecting bars 35a through 357', respectively, and the springs. 51a through 519' help toposition'theiselecting bars 36a through 367", respectively- :Fig. .21 shows. in a simplified circuit diagram. the electrical features oithe invention from the. subscriberstelephone to the output registers. When the subscriber lifts his receiver 53' oh the hook, idlelineswitches? 54 hunt and find the subscibers line :and' connect. it. through a sender link. 55 to a sender 55 which stores: the. dialed information and feeds this information into the appropriate input registers through the. marker connector '51.

These registers are magnets which are energized when chosen by the subscribers code number. As described in connection with Fig. 1, one of the magnets lea through E57, is excited by the first number of a three-digit code number that is dialed, the actual magnet that is chosen depending upon the value of the first digit that isdialed, Likewise, one of the magnets I la through H7, inclusive, will be excited by the secondnumber dialed and one of the magnets I2a through I27, inclusive, by the third number dialed. Voltage for the excitation of the magnets is suppliedby batteries, such as the batteries 58 and 59. A return path is provided by grounding the free end of the batteries as well as one end of the sender 56. The selecting bars associated with the actue ated magnets are then attracted towards the mag-nets, leaving a card free to rotate. As shown in Fig. 2, light from the electric bulb 46 then shines on the photoelectric tube 41 in intervals determined by the holes cut in the periphery of the rotating card. These bursts of energy pass through a circuit composed of an alternating current amplifier 84; a differentiatin circuit comprising the resistance 3! and the condenser 62; thepolarized relay 64, which responds only to negative pulses and which acts to operate magnet 68 and release latch 68; and the polarized relay 63, which is actuated only by positive pulses and which serves to send energy, when actuated, through the contacts of the switch 65 to the output register relays which are connected to; these contacts. The battery 82 and the alternating current amplifier as are connected in series with the photoelectric tube 4?, and the resistance 6| is connected in parallel with the output terminals of the amplifier 84. The amplifier 84 is of the alternating current variety so as to be able to respond more easily to the negative surge which energizes the magnet 64 and releases the latch 69. The magnets 64 and 63 are in series with the condenser 60, while all of these are in parallel with the resistance 6!. Before any cardis released. the photoelectric tube 41 is constantly being made to conduct current by radiation from the electric bulb 46 so that current flows from the battery 82 through the input of amplifier 34. When the current is interrupted as a card starts to rotate, the current in the photoelectric cell ceases thus sending a negative pulse through the amplifier 84 into the resistance 6| and producing a negative pulse in magnets 63 and 64. ,This pulse is in such a direction as to excite the magnet 64, thus causing the contact 66 to close. Since a continuous circuit will now be obtained from the battery 6! through the magnet 68 to the contact 56 and back to the grounded terminal of the battery 6! by way of the grounded side of the contact 66, the magnet 68 will now be energized and will act to lift the latch 69 which was preventing the rotary contact ll! of the switch 65 from moving. The rotary contact 10 is coupled to the rotating shaft i3 by means of the friction clutch I and, in rotating, establishes continuity with a plurality of contacts on the switch 55, the number of contacts corresponding to the number of possible positions for holes around the periphery of the cards. Although the rotary contact :8 is coupled to the rotating shaft 53, the contact 10 may be held stationary on the rotating shaft [3 because the friction clutch I5 allows the contact 70 to slip with'respect to the shaft whenever the restraining latch 69 is engaged.

Since the rotary contact 10 is released form- 8. tationi only when a selected card is released, and since, both the rotary contact and the cardare coupled to the shaft 13, the rotary contact i6 and the selected card will rotate synchronously. Furthermore, the switch 65 is designed to havaa number of stationary contacts equal to the number of possible positions for holes on the periphery of a card, and the stationary contacts on the switch are positioned so that a hole on the .card

will be aligned with the bulb 46 and photoelectric tube 41 at the same time that the rotary contact 10 passes over a contact on the switch 65 corre-'- as the energizing means for the relay I2. Whenever a hole in the rotating card allows the light beamto pass, the photoelectric cell momentarily draws current. This'produces a positive pulse which operates magnet 63. Operation of magnet 63 establishes a continuous circuit from one of the output relay batteries through its asso' ciated output register relay and the corresponding contact on the switch 65 to the rotary con"- tact l0 and then back to the battery by way'of the ground on the contact H. Thus, current will flow through the stationary contacts on the switch 65 in a pattern corresponding to the pat-'- tern of the holes on the selected card, the rotary switch 55 and switch arm 75 serving as a distributor of potential impulses to the output register relays. Thus, if the card 24 is selected, cu'r.- rent will fiow through the second and fourth coritacts of the switch 55 and will energize the output register relays-connected to these contacts, since holes are located in the second and fourth positions of the first arc. Likewise, because ,of the fact that holes are located in the third and fifth positions of the second arc of the card 24, the out; put register relays associated with the eighth and tenth contacts of the switch 65 will be energized. 'Whenever an output register relay,. such as the relay 12 connected to the first contact of the switch 65, is energized by current flowing from its battery, such as the battery 13 associated with the relay [2, a contact is closed, permitting the output information to be passed on to the output registers themselves, which will assess the output information. and accordingly choose the proper lines. The contact 14 is the contact. that closes when the relay i2 is actuated.

While certain specific embodiments of the invention have been described, it should be understood that various other embodiments of the in vention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined within the scope of the appended claims. a 1' What'is claimed is: v

1. A translating arrangement comprising, a plurality of input registers, a plurality ofoutput registers, a plurality of code cards mounted on a rotatable shaft, said cards having a'distinctive array of transparent portions corresponding to a predetermined code, means for holding said cards against rotation, said means operable under the control of said input registers to selectively release a single card for rotation, and radiant energy means cooperating with the transparent portion of said selected cardtocontrol operation of said outputregisters in. accordance with the code of said selected card.

2. A translating arrangement comprising a plurality of input registers, a plurality of output registers, a plurality of code cards mounted on a common rotating shaft, each of said cards having a distinctive array of transparent portions corresponding to a predetermined code, means for holding said cards against rotation, said means operable under the control of said input registers to selectively release a single card for rotation, and radiant energy means cooperating with the transparent portion of saidselected card to control operation of said output registers in accordance with the code of said. selected card. 5

3. A translating arrangement comprising a plurality of input registers, a plurality of output registers, a plurality of card holders rotatably mounted upon a common rotating shaft, re straining means for preventing the rotation of said holders while said shaft rotates a plurality of code cards mounted one in each of said holders, said card being perforated in accordance with a predetermined code, means under the control of said input registers whereby said restraining means associated with any selected holder may be released so as to allow said selected holder to rotate, and means controlled by the perforations in the code card mounted on said released holder to operate said output registers in accordance with the code of said selected card.

4. A translating arrangement comprising a plurality of input registers, a plurality of output registers, a plurality of card holders clutch mounted on a common rotating shaft, means for restraining said holders against rotation, a plurality of code. cards mounted one on each of said holders, said "cards having transparent portions corresponding to predetermined codes, means under the control of said inputregisters for releasing a selected card holder for rotation, and photoelectric means cooperating with the transparent portions of the-card in said selected holder to control operation of said output registers in accordance with the code of said selected .card.

5. A translating arrangement comprising a plurality of input registers, a plurality of out.- put registers, a plurality of card holders rotatably mounted on a common rotating shaft, a plurality of. selecting bars, a plurality of stop pins attached to each of. said holders, certain of said selecting, bars engaging the stop pins on each of said holders and thereby restraining the holders from rotating, a plurality of codecards mounted on said holders, each of said .code cards having a. plurality of transparent portions in a distinctive array corresponding to a predetermined output code, groups of said input registers operating on combinations of said selecting bars to release said holders singly; for rotation, and radiant energy means. operable through the transparent portions of such released card in rotation to control operation of said output registers in accordance with the code of said transparent portions.

6. A translating arrangement comprising a plurality of input registers, a plurality of output registers, a plurality of rotatable card holders, a plurality of stop pins attached to each of said holders, a plurality of selecting bars, detent means attached to said selecting bars for engaging the stop pins on said holders and thereby'restraining the holders from rotating, a plurality .of' distinctively perforated code cards removably mounted on said holders, combinations of said input registers operable simultane ously in cooperation with said selecting bars to release a single holder for rotation, and photoelectric means operable by radiation through perforations of a card in said selected holder to control the operation of said output registers.

7. A translating arrangement comprising a plurality of input registers, a plurality of output registers, a rotating shaft, a plurality of card holders mounted on said shafts by means of a separate friction clutch for each of said holders, a plurality of stop pins attached to each of said holders, and normally engaged by a plurality of selecting bars whereby said holders are restrained from rotating, a plurality of cards remov-ably mounted on said holders, said cards having a plurality of transparent portions corresponding with predetermined output codes, combinations of said input registers operable through said selecting bars to release a single holder for rotation, and photoelectric means operable by radiation transmitted through the transparent portions in a card mounted on said selected holder to control operation of said out.-

put registers.

8. A translating arrangement comprising, a plurality of input registers grouped in a number of banks corresponding to the number of digits in an input code signal, the number of registers in each bank corresponding to the number of integers possible for each digit of the code signal, a plurality of card holders seleetably mounted on a, rotating shaft, means for restraining said card holders from rotation, said means control.- lable by simultaneous operation of one input reg ister in each bank to release a single card holder for rotation, a pluralit of distinctively perforated cards mounted one in each of said holders, photoelectric responsive means operable by transmission ,of radiant energy through such distil1C tive perforations in a selected card when rotated, and a plurality of output registers controllable by said photoelectric means to establish an output registration corresponding to the code of perforations in any selected card in rotation.

9. A translating arrangement comprising a plurality of input registers grouped in a plurality of banks corresponding to the number of digits in the input code signal, the number of registers in each. bank corresponding to the number of integers possible for each digit in the code signaL. a plurality of card holders rotatably mounted on a shaft, means for driving said holders individually in rotation, means con trollable by simultaneous operation of one input register from each bank whereby any one of said holdersmay be selected for rotation, a pliu'ality of distinctively perforated code cards mounted one in each of said holders, photoelectric means responsive to radiant energy transmitted through such perforations of any selected card in rotation, and a plurality of output registers under the control of said photoelectric means to establish an output registration corresponding to the code of perforations in such selected card.

10. A plurality of input registers, a plurality of card holders, means for driving said holders in a circular path, detent means extending from said registers to said holders in difierent combinations where-by only one holder is released for movement by the operation of a combination of registers, .a code card bearing information recorded by a distinctive array of transparent portions mounted in. each-of said holders, and output means for registering the information recorded on any selected card as its holder describes a circular path.

11; A plurality of input registers, a plurality of card holders, a card detachably mounted in each holder, information recorded on each of said cards by a distinctive pattern of perforations, means for driving said cards in a circular path, detent means extending from said registers to said holders in different combinations whereby one holder is released for rotation upon the operation of a combination of registers, and output means for registering the information recorded on a card in said holder as it describes its circular path. I 12. A plurality of input registers, a plurality of card holders, coded information punched in a card of each holder, means for driving said holders in a circular path, a plurality of stop pins attached to each card holder, detent means extending from said registers to said stop pins in diiferent combinations whereby only one holder "is released for movement by the operation of a combination of registers, and output means for registering the information recorded on a card in said holder as it describes its circular path.

13. A plurality of input registers, a plurality of distinctively perforated cards mounted detachably in individual card holders, means for driving said holders in a circular path, a pluralit of stop pins attached to each holder, a plurality of selecting bars operable by said input registers, detent means extending from sa d selecting bars to said stop pins in diilerent combinations whereby only one card holder is released for movement by the operation of a combination of said input registers,

and output means for registering the pattern of perforations of a card in any such released holder as it traverses its circular path.

-14. A translating arrangement comprising an input register, an output register, a plurality of rotatable card holders, a plurality of selecting bars for restraining said holders against rotation, said selecting bars being controllable by sa d input register whereby under the control of a distinctive registration set up in said input register one of said card holders may be released for rotation, a plurality of cards mounted one on each of said holders, said cards being individually perforated in distinc ive patterns corresponding to predetermined output codes, and means controlled by the distinctive perforations of a selected card for operating said output registers.

15. As a subcombination for use in a translator, a plurality of rotatable members each having a pair of arms adapted to receive a code card, a plurality of cards perforated according to predetermined codes and adapted to fit between said arms, spring brackets extending from said rotatable members whereby said cards may be held' input code, a source of radiant energy, a radiant energy responsive means aligned with said source, means for rotating said selected plate in a circular path extending between said source and said responsive means in a manner to interrupt said radiant energy by the opaque portions of said plate but to allow said energy'to pass through 12 said transparent portions successively as said plate rotates, and a circuit controlled by electricalimpulse from said energy responsive means.

17. A plurality of opaque plates having transparent portions arranged according to predeter mined codes, means for selecting one of said plates;

in accordance with one code, a source of radiant energy directed at a radiant energy responsive means, additional means for driving said selected plate through a circular path intersecting the path of said radiant energy whereby the opaque and transparent portions of said plate respec tively interrupt and transmit said radiant energy in a sequence of impulses corresponding to the code of said transparent portions, a rotary switch having a plurality of contacts corresponding in number and angular displacement to all of the possible positions for said transparent portions, said switch driven in synchronism with said selected plate, and a plurality of relays controlled by the operation of said switch and said radiant energy responsive means.

18. A generally opaque plate having its opacity penetrated by a plurality of transparent portions spaced in accordance with a predetermined code, means for driving said plate in cyclical motion, a radiant energy producing means, a radiant energy receiving means responsive to said producing means as said radiant energy is interrupted by the cyclical motion of said opaque plate, amplifying means associated with said radiant energy responsive means, polarity sensitive relays operable by the output of said amplifier, a multicon-f tact switch controlled by said relays, means for closing the contacts of said switch sequentially in timed relation to the driving of said plate, and a plurality of output register relays operable in sequence by said multicontact switch whereby registration is established corresponding to the coded arrangement of transparent portions in said opaque plate.

19. An opaque card perforated in accordance with a predetermined code, means for driving said card cyclically, a plurality of contact'elements, a movable contact arm for establishing electrical connection with said elements in sequence, means for driving sad movable contact arm in synchronism with said card, radiant energy means operable through perforations of said card, an alternating current amplifier controlled by said radiant energy means, two polarized relays operable by positive and negative impulses respectively from said ampl fier whereby potential may be applied intermittently to said movable con.- tact arm during intervals when perforations of said card are aligned with said radiant energy means, and a plurality of relays selectively operable through said movable contact arm.

20. A method of translating an input s gnal in .one code to an output signal in a difierent code,

lln accordance with the registered code of said input signal, and successively energizing a plurality of output registers selected in accordance with the distinctive pattern of perforations in said card.

21. A translator comprising a plurality of cards, each card having a plurality of transparent portions or openings and non-transparent portions arranged according to a predetermined code, selective means for releasing one of said cards for movement, means operable upon such release to mov the selected card through a definite path of motion, a source of radiant energy aligned with said portions in succession during said motion, an energy responsive device also aligned with said portions in succession during said motion whereby time-spaced impulses of current are created in accordance with said predetermined code arrangement, a plurality of impulse responsive means, and means for distributing said impulses to said impulse responsive means.

22. A translator comprising radiant energy producing means, and radiant energy responsive means, a plurality of radiant energy interceptor elements located so as to be movable with respect to a radiant energy path between said producing means and said responsive means, said interceptor elements having cut-out portions and noncut-out portions arranged according to a predetermined code, said portions alternatel intercepting and not intercepting respectively said energy when said elements are moved with respect to said radiant energy path, driving means for causing relative movement between said producing means and said interceptor elements such that a plurality of said coded portions are moved with respect to said radiant energy path, means for selecting one of said elements to the exclusion of others for such relative movement in accordance with a coded input signal, electrical paths controlled by said radiant energy responsive means according to radiant energy impinging thereupon, and means including register means connected to said electrical paths to register a code which is a combined function of said coded input signal and the coded arrangement of the portions of said selected element.

DOREN MITCHELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,035,043 Peterson Aug. 6, 1912 1,645,573 Bascom Oct. 18, 1927 1,860,967 Tate May 31, 1932 1,990,019 Blackwood Feb. 5, 1935 2,075,536 Miller Mar. 30, 1937 2,361,240 Stibitz Oct. 24, 1944 

